Debt Advisor Officer

We have an excellent opportunity available for a Debt Advisor Officer to join our proactive Revenues Team on a 2-year fixed term contract. This is an exciting brand-new role to Wokingham Borough Council working alongside with the Debt Prevention Group.

As Debt Advisor Officer, you will work together with residents to identify opportunities that support financial stability, which will help to shape future service options. The team supports residents facing financial challenges related to debt, with the aim of providing early help to prevent hardship and homelessness whilst supporting a sustainable financial future for those individuals and families.

This role will support the Recovery, Tenancy Sustainment, Welfare Support and other services around the Council that recover debt to maximise income, reduce expenditure and prioritise debts to prevent homelessness.

Benefits:

Now is a fantastic time to become part of our team and in return we can offer you an excellent range of benefits including flexible working options, a generous annual leave entitlement of 28 days (rising to 33 days after 5 years continued local government service), plus Bank Holidays, an local government pension scheme, a range of local and lifestyle discounts, access to a free onsite gym (based at Shute End Office), salary sacrifice car and bike schemes, an employee assistance programme, including a 24/7 wellbeing support line, learning and development opportunities and so much more!

Key responsibilities:

• Provide debt counselling and welfare advice to residents, ensuring compliance with legal guidelines and council procedures.
• Conduct financial assessments, prepare financial statements, and negotiate arrears agreements with creditors to prevent homelessness.
• Support residents with welfare benefits claims, staying informed about relevant legislation and best practices.
• Liaise with internal teams, including Housing, Recovery, and Community Engagement, to ensure holistic support for residents.
• Offer guidance on managing expenses, employment and training options, and other housing solutions to promote financial stability.
• Promote awareness of welfare benefits and collect data to identify trends in resident debt, contributing to future service planning.

Candidate requirements:

• Educated to Good GCSE standard (5 Grades A -C or equivalent)
• Knowledge of welfare benefits and debt counselling practices.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to handle sensitive situations.
• Ability to conduct detailed financial assessments and negotiate realistic arrears agreements.
• Proficiency in data analysis to identify patterns in resident hardship and inform future initiatives and strategies.
• Confident in working across services and external agencies to coordinate comprehensive support for residents.

Our Area

Wokingham Borough is set in the heart of Berkshire with excellent transport links to Reading and central London. Our area comprises of a vibrant and historical market town, attractive villages, and miles of beautiful countryside. 

We’re home to a range of high performing schools, a host of international businesses and an incredible community. The borough has a strong local economy with accelerated growth, a range of excellent public facilities and low levels of crime, offering an exceptional quality of life. 

If you are interested and would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact Becky Mortimer-Browne 0118 237 8796 & Matt Hughes 0118 237 8800 

Closing date: Sunday 24th November 2024, 11pm

Interview date: TBC

If your application is shortlisted for an interview, you will be required to provide proof of your right to work in the UK at that stage. Additionally, successful candidates must present proof upon receiving a job offer.

Please note that all offers are conditional and subject to the satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.

Please be aware that we will be reviewing the applications we receive on a daily basis, and we reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified.

Whilst this is a fixed term contract appointment, for anyone already employed by Wokingham Borough Council this would be classed as a secondment if successful.  Therefore, the usual permission requests for secondments apply and you must speak to your line manager in the first instance before applying.

Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.

Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.